Splitting my drive next friday night driving and figured that the area around santa barbara would be a good place to stop, before heading to San Francisco the next day.

Joe

If you're heading north and enjoy beach camping, suggest you check out Jalama beach near Lompoc. It is about an hour north of SB, off hwy 101. This is one of the few places in CA where you can legally camp right on the beach (in some of the campsites). The setting is beautiful and if you hit it midweek, it should be uncrowded too.
R

Rufugio is great, if going up Hwy 1, Montana de Oro in Los Osos. It does have water and vault toilets, Pismo Beach has sites on the water. Morro Bay state Park is nice and they have showers too. Also near
Santa Barbara is McGrath.